Rabat – The Basel AML Index 2025, published by the Basel Institute on Governance, places Morocco among the 10 African countries least exposed to money laundering risks, confirming a comparatively strong position on the continent despite persistent structural challenges.
With an overall score of around 5.7 out of 10, Morocco falls into the “medium risk” category. Yet its continental ranking tells a more favorable story.
Out of 48 African countries assessed, Morocco ranks 43rd, placing it among the continent’s safest jurisdictions in terms of exposure to money laundering and terrorist financing.
Globally, the country stands 100th out of 177, well ahead of high-risk jurisdictions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, and Equatorial Guinea.
“Morocco consolidates its position among the most resilient African jurisdictions,” the report notes, grouping it with Botswana, Seychelles, Mauritius, Tunisia, Namibia, Ghana, Egypt, Zambia, and Senegal.
Within the Maghreb, Morocco performs better than Algeria, ranked 15th globally and classified as high risk, and Mauritania, ranked 35th. Tunisia remains the regional frontrunner, with a score of 4.75 and a 119th global ranking, placing it in the low-risk category.
Across the Middle East and North Africa region, Morocco sits close to the regional average. It records stronger results than several high-risk Gulf and Maghreb countries, though it remains behind Oman and Tunisia, which the index identifies as the most robust jurisdictions in the region.
The report attributes Morocco’s position to a balance between progress and remaining vulnerabilities.
The country has established an anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing legal framework aligned with Financial Action Task Force standards. However, operational effectiveness remains uneven.
Corruption and fraud continue to influence risk perceptions, while financial transparency, particularly regarding beneficial ownership of companies, remains limited.
At the institutional level, political stability weighs in Morocco’s favor. Yet indicators related to judicial independence and press freedom place the country in an intermediate zone. “Morocco needs to strengthen transparency and institutional effectiveness to move into the low-risk category,” the report states.
At the global level, the most resilient jurisdictions include Finland, Iceland, San Marino, Denmark, Estonia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, and Switzerland, all with scores below 4.70, classifying them as low risk.
The Basel AML Index relies on 17 indicators grouped into five areas: the quality of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regulations, corruption and fraud risks, financial transparency and standards, public transparency and accountability, and political and legal risks.
This methodology explains the strong performance of Nordic and European countries, where institutional strength, transparent governance, and advanced financial regulation remain decisive.
By joining the 10 African countries least exposed to money laundering, Morocco presents a profile of moderate vulnerability combined with a relatively steady trajectory.
The continental ranking sends a reassuring signal to investors and institutional partners, while also pointing to the need to address remaining gaps and strengthen long-term resilience.
